E00508: The Piacenza Pilgrim records his visit to an oratory at Pharan (Sinai), built where *Moses (Old Testament prophet and lawgiver, S00241) prevailed against the Amalekites. Account of an anonymous pilgrim, written in Latin, probably in Placentia (northern Italy), c. 570.

Pilgrim of Piacenza, Itinerarium 40

Extract from the pilgrim's account of his journey from Mount Sinai to Egypt.

First recension
Nobis autem uisum est per Aegyptum reuerti et uenientes in Fara ciuitatem, ubi pugnauit Moyses cum Amalec, ubi est oratorium, cuius altare positum est super petras illas, quas subposuerunt Moysi oranti.

'But we preferred to return through Egypt, and went to the city of Paran, where Moses did battle with Amalek. In that place is an oratory with its altar built over the stones with which they supported Moses while he prayed.'


Second recension
Visum est nobis per Aegyptum reuerti. Et uenimus in ciuitatem, in qua pugnauit Moyses cum Amalech. Ubi est oratorium, cuius altare positus est super lapides illos, quos posuerunt Moysi orante.

'But we preferred to return through Egypt, and went to the city where Moses did battle with Amalek. In that place is an oratory with its altar built over the stones with which they supported Moses while he prayed.'


Text: Geyer 1898, 185 and 214. Translation: Wilkinson 2002, 147 lightly modified.